Claudina Pinto
LONAVLA, NOVEMBER 2, 2011: In a serene ambience, soothing green vegetation and cool weather, fifty eight Salesian Family members (Co-operators, Past Pupils and ADMA) entered into their Annual Spiritual Retreat at Don Bosco, Lonavla on October 21, 2011. Fr. Dominic Martis sdb, the preacher for the retreat led us into prayer by explaining the theme of the adoration: The Need For Prayer.
His talks were based on Salesian Spirituality and Celebrating Life in Happiness. We grow spiritually by doing our daily duties, accepting suffering and seeking God in all things. Discovering Our Vocation and Mission, implies being active in the Church, Society and through Political involvement. We need to thank God unceasingly for our health, education, family, work and friends.
Br. Savio D'Souza conducted prayerful meditations using power points. They were inspiring and very challenging as well. He effectively used images of a Storm and horrid sights of Taliban savagery. Rev Fr. Wilfred D'Souza filled up the blanks with interesting topics: The Art of Well Being and Recognizing those who serve us unassumingly. Both reflections led to interesting discussions of living the vocation of the Salesian Cooperator. Later, Fr. D'Souza also explained the newly revised texts of the Mass.Mrs. Claudina Pinto thanked and handed a token of appreciation to the preacher Fr. Martis for enlightening us how to live a life of happiness, and to Bro Savio for making the stay comfortable with good arrangements and tasty food. All contributed to make the Retreat a truly memorable one.